How Much Is Earthlink Wireless Internet?
Earthlink Wireless Internet
Price and Packages Earthlink is an ISP that provides different kinds of connections including DSL, fiber optics, and wireless. For those that want to switch and go wireless for home or business broadband internet needs, Earthlink has 4G LTE internet offered in partnership with the key mobile service providers. This means that customers can access fast wireless internet without the need for cables or phone lines. But how much does Earthlink wireless internet cost precisely? Below is information regarding Earthlink wireless pricing and its plans.
Earthlink Wireless Overview Earthlink wireless internet service is received through 4G LTE cellular towers for internet connectivity. This is the same technology that has been adopted by leading mobile service providers such as Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint. Earthlink for the most part simply redistributes wireless data plans through these carrier networks. Thus, even if you register with Earthlink, you are truly entering a major wireless carrier’s network.
The main advantage of wireless internet from Earthlink is the opportunity to get a high-speed Internet connection without even laying the cable, DSL, or fiber optics. It is particularly appropriate for counties that do not have wired infrastructure to support Internet connectivity. It also provides more convenience and mobility, particularly when changing residences or during transit. Of course, one of the primary drawbacks is that some of the plans come with data limits and throttling.
Earthlink Wireless Plans Wireless data plan provided by the company: Earthlink has presented a list of wireless data plans to cater to users’ Internet usage requirements. Their wireless plans are bundled with unlimited talk and text along with a monthly data usage allowance. Once you use up your monthly data allowance, speeds are throttled down to 2G, so these plans are suitable for low to average data consumption.
Here are the monthly wireless plans available from Earthlink.
- High-speed Data - 10GB - $50 per Month
- 20GB high-speed data allowance - $60/month
- High-Speed Data – 30 GB – $70 one month.
- Based on Internet usage, the plan proposed is 40GB of high-speed data costing $80 per month.
- 50 GB high-speed data – $90/month
Plans range from $50 per month to $90 per month depending on the data level as you can see. Every plan presented comes with infinite text and speech. The same wireless modem and data bundle enable you to connect all these devices—a laptop, a tablet, and a smartphone. Nevertheless, depending on the quantity of data you have subscribed to, this might take a lot of data which would dramatically slow down your internet connection until it runs empty.
However, one must understand that all these are month-to-month plans with no contractual agreements for long terms. However, Earthlink does impose an early termination fee of $135 if you terminate the service within the first six months. Ensure that a wireless internet connection is fast in your area before subscribing to the service.
Earthlink also offers several add-ons to enhance your wireless plan
Mobile Hotspot Add-On – This option costs an additional $5 per month. 15GB Data Only Pack – $10/month 30GB Video Streaming Pack - $20 per month
The mobile hotspot add-on enables you to share the wireless modem with other devices in the vicinity through WiFi. It makes it easier for you especially when on a move. The video streaming packs also provide extra high-speed data only for video streaming from services like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and the like.
Earthlink Wireless Equipment Fees The second component of the monthly wireless data plan expenses is equipment fees for the modem/router hardware. Without this wireless modem, you will not be able to connect to the 4G LTE network. Earthlink gives you a few different hardware purchase options.
- 1-year equipment lease – $99
- Month-to-month lease – $10 per month
- Buy equipment outright – $199
For the 1-year lease, they charge $99 initially for the equipment and you own it once it is used for one year. The month-to-month lease charges you $10 per month forever to not own the equipment. If you want to own it from the start and do not want to pay for any lease fees, you can directly buy the required wireless equipment for $199. It is important to note that those older 2G or 3G-only modems cannot be used to get the 4G LTE speeds.
It also must be mentioned that the terms of using Earthlink’s wireless service indicate that the modem hardware is designed to work only on the company’s wireless network. That means that after canceling the Earthlink service, one cannot take the modem to another carrier.
Essential Information on Earthlink Wireless If you’re considering the switch to Earthlink wireless internet, there are a few key things to keep in mind.
- Wireless speeds and connectivity are affected by location, terrain, weather, congestion, and other factors. It is advisable to discuss with other users within your locality who are using the same carrier network as you.
- It should be noted that Earthlink wireless plans include data caps. If you are to go over your data allowance within a month, then the internet speed drops down to as low as 2G until the next billing cycle is over. Select the amount of data that you use currently as a basis to decide on the amount of data allowance.
- Although the wireless plans can be purchased without a signed contract, Earthlink will indeed impose an early termination fee if you decide to cancel your contract too soon. But, do not blind-buy wireless service before you are certain it is the right thing for you.
- Consider all equipment purchase scenarios and the different fees that you will be required to pay besides the stated monthly charges. Leasing the modem long-term is even more expensive in the long run.
- Sharing your wireless modem with other gadgets by making it a mobile hotspot will help you exhaust your monthly data allowance quickly. Turn on that feature only in a case when you need to have a portable WiFi internet connection.
Although certain costs will depend on the plan, lease option, and add-ons, most Earthlink wireless clients using the service pay between $60 and $100 a month in total. Factors such as data usage requirements and location service quality must be considered when deciding on a plan. Also, take into account the cost of equipment when determining overall costs. As the availability of wireless internet continues to get better for areas that do not have cable/fiber, one can find some reasonable deals with Earthlink Wireless. However, always be cautious when going through all the detailed information about network management policies.
